Foldable or extensible car-step.



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H. D.- KIRKLEY. FOLDABLB 0R EXTBNSIBLE GAR STEP. I APPLICATION FILEDPEB.9,1914. 1,107,170. Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

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Witnesses Y ,ug

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

HIRAM D. KIRKLEY, 0F PARAGOULD, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 G. O.LIGHT, 0F PARAGQULD, ARKANSAS.

FOLDABLE on Ex'rnNsIBLE GAB-STEP.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

Application filed February I1, 1914. .SeriaLNa 817,613.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, HiRAM D. KIRKLEY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Paragould, in the county ofGreene and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Foldable orExtensible Car-Step5 and I do hereby declare the following to However,the principal object of this invention is to improve the constructionof, the extensible car step, shown, set forth and.

claimed in the application filed April 22,

1913, Serial No. 762,804, allowed May 10,

1913, and which has matured into patent dated July 22, 1913, No.1,067,821, in that means are provided, whereby said extensible car stepmay be independently actuated,

or actuated by the usual vestibule door,'

when opened or closed.

Another object of the invention is to afford improved connectionsbetween the operating parts of said extensible car step and thevestibule door, whereby when the door is opened the step will be throwndown or extended, and when closed, the step is re-i ceded.

= connections to the rock shaft 21.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forming apart of said connections, whereby said connections" may be temporarilyincapable of actuat-j mg the step when opening the vestlbule door. Infurther words, said connections may be temporarily broken between thevestibule door and the step, so that the door may be openedindependently and without actuating the step. In this case after theconductor or trainman or porter reaches the lower stationary step, hemay depress a foot piece adjacent the lower stationary step, so that theextensible step may be actuated, that is, if the porter, trainman: orconductor wishes to descend to the plat form.

connections, may be so arranged whereby step as applied thereto.

the vestibule door may be at all times opened without actuating theextensible car step.

Another object of the invention is to afford means whereby theextensible step is locked either in an extended or contracted position.

In practical fields the details of construe, 131011 may be subjected toalterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, ashereinafter set vforth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a view in perspective of one end of thevestibule railroad car, showing the improved extensible Fig. 2 is an elevation of one side of the usual car step, showing the extensible stepextended, and

the car body in section partially on line .2-2 of Fig.1 looking in thedirection of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partlyinsection of a portion of the usual steps, showing the extensible stepextended. Fig. i. is an enlarged detail side elevation partly in secton, that is, somewhat slmilar to Fig. 2 showingthe foldablestepcollapsed. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view, showingparts in section of the connections between, the lever 32. and the door66,0f the vestibule of the car. 6

is an enlarged perspective view, showing the tread and rise boards 8 and9, and their Fig. .7 is a detail perspective view ofthe bell cranklever-69.

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 designates the platform ofthe car having the usual steps 2. Extending through the sides 3 of thesteps 2 are the rods 4 and 5, the extremities of which are mounted inbearings of the strap irons 6, which are secured to the sides of thesteps as 121.13 7, there being nuts upon said rods fiand 5 to hold themin place. The straps 6 and 17 not only act as bearings for the rods, butalso as reinforcing and strengthening means for the sides of the steps.The folding step comprises the tread board 8 and the rise board '9,which are hinged together as at 10 by the leaf hinges 11, which aresecured to Ithe tread and rise boardsS and 9, as at 12. The leaves 13ofsaidhinges are embedded or countersunk in the recesses 14 in the rear ofthe rise board, especially to allow the rise board to fold in closeposition to the tread of the steps 2. The upper ends 16 of the leaves 13terminate in rolls 17 to receive the rod 4, thereby pivotally mountingthe rise board 9. The rod 5 not only acts as a strengthening medium forthe ordinary steps 2, but also as an abutment, against which the endportion of the curved arms 18 (the lower portions of which are securedat 19 to the tread board 8) contacts, to assist in limiting the arms aswell as the tread and rise boards in their extensible positions. Theunder face of the tread board 15 of the p a face plate 20, whichperformsthe purpose of an abutment plate for the upper extremities of the arms18. Mounted in bearings of the side 3 of the steps 2 and the strap iron7 is a rock shaft 21 having arms 22, which are pivoted at 23 to the arms18 which have a certain amount of resiliency or spring. The end 24 ofthe rock shaft is fiattened, as shown at 25, and is adapted to bereceived in the slot 26 of the arm 27. The extreme portion of theflattened end is flattened to prevent the arm 27 from displacement. Thisarm 27 is positioned between the flattened end and the strap iron 7, soasto prevent wear upon the side of the step. The arm 27 is provided witha laterally extending lug 29 forming a pivot for one end of the link 30,which in turn at 31 is pivoted to the lower end of the lever 32. Thelever 32 is pivotally mounted at 33 to one of the sides of the carsteps. The pivots between the arms 18 and 22 are so arranged relative tothe pivot between the link 30 and the lug 29, that when the folding stepis folded, said pivots between the arms 18 and 22 and the pivot of thelink on the lug 29 will be out of alinement with the rock shaft, therebypartly acting to hold the extensible tread and rise boards folded.

Beyond the pivot 33 of the lever 32 and carried by the lever is abracket 36, in bearings of which a plunger dog 37 is mounted. Acoilspring 38 is mounted on the dog interposed between one of thebearings 39 and the collar 40 on the plunger dog, to hold the nose 41 ofthe dog in either one of the notches 42 and 43 of the quadrant 44. Theupper end of the plunger dog is constructed with a transverse bar 45having lateral. lugs 46 and 47, which overlie the arms 48 and 49 of theanchor-shaped link 50, which link is pivoted at 51 to the upper end ofthe lever 32. Pivoted at 52 to the arm 53 of the anchor-shaped link is alink 54, which in turn is pivoted to the upper end of the'lever 55pivoted at 56 in a bracket 57, secured to the side of the stationary carsteps. Pivoted to the lower end 58 of the lever 55 is a link 59, whichin turn is pivoted at 60 to the upper end portion of the lever 61pivoted at 62 in a bracket 63, which is also secured to one side of thestationary car step. The lower portion of the lever 61 terminates in alaterally extending handle or hand piece 64. The conductor, trainman, orporter, subsequently to having descended to the platform may operate theextensible or folding car step, by pushing the handle or hand piece 64from the car, which will cause the oscillation of the lever 61, as wellas the oscillation of the levers 55 and 32. However, in causing theoscillation of the lever-32, the anchor-shaped link will be partiallytilted upon its pivot, thereby causing the arm 48 of the anchor-shapedlink to contact with the lug 46 of the plunger dog, and as theanchor-shaped link is further partially tilted, the plunger dog will beraised, disengaging its nose from the notch 42 of the quadrant, therebyunlocking the lever 32, and on further oscillation of said levers 61, 55and 32, the said extensible car step will be extended,

After the passengers have finished using the extensible step, and thetrain or car is ready to proceed on its journey, the conductor, trainmanor porter ascends the steps, and as he reaches the first stationarystep, he applies foot pressure upon the handle or hand piece, which willcause a reverse oscillatory movement of said levers 61, 55 and 32,thereby contracting or receding the extensible car step. This operationis all ac complished when the door 66 of the usual vestibule 67 does notoperate the lever 55, when opening the same. This operation is alsoaccomplished after the conductor, or porter has descended to theplatform, without first having operated the extensible step. However, ifdesired, and which is usually the case, the conductor, porter, ortraininan may upon descending to the lower stationary step apply footpressure upon the foot piece 68 of the bell crank lever 69, which ismounted in bearings 70 of one side of the stationary step. The arm 71 ofthe bell crank lever 69 has a link connection 72 to the lever 61. Whenthe conductor, trainman or porter applies foot pressure to the bellcrank lever 69, the levers 61, and 32 are oscillated as above stated,the lever 32 being unlocked at the same time, thereby extending theextensible step. This manner of actuating the extensible step is alsoaccomplished when the vestibule door is opened independently, that is,without actuating the lever 55.

Pivotally connecting the pivot pin 73 (which pivots the link 54 to thelever 55) is a tubular rod 75, in which a rod 76 telescopes, the end 77of which is pivoted at 78 to one end of the angular arm 79 of the bar80, which is fastened rigidly at 81 to the lower edge of the vestibuledoor 66. The end 83 of the rod 76 has a lag 84. As rule,

or generally the rod 76 is arranged in the tubular rod 75, with the lug84 extending upwardly, so that the lug 84 will not engage the slot ornotch 85 of the tubular rod. In which case, the vestibule'door willalways open independently, that is, without actuating the lever 55.However, in some instances, as shown in thedrawing, the rod 7 6 isdisposed, so that the lug 84: engages the conductor or porter, beforedescendingthe steps,may open the vestibule door independently, that is,after raising the platform door 88, by applying footpressure upon thelever or foot piece 89, which will cause the arm 90 to contact with thetubular rod, and manipulate the same and the rod 7 6 in such.

a manner as to disengage the lug 84 from the notch or slot 85, afterwhich the vestibule door maybe opened, without actuating the levers 55and 82. Then after the con ductor has descended to the-lower stationarystep he may throw the extensible step downwardly by applying footpressure to the bell crank lever 69, as before stated. The foot piece 89is pivoted at 92 to a portion of the vestibule.

From the foregoing it is apparent, there has been devised an improvedoperating means for an extensible ear step, having connections betweenthe operating part of the car step and a vestibule door, whereby as thedoor is opened the step maybe extended. The operating means being soconstructed, that the same may be temporarily disconnected at the timeit is desired to open the door, so that the same may be openedindependently without actuating the car step.

It is also apparent that after the conductor has descended to the lowerstationary step, he may operate said mechanism, to actuate theextensible step. It being further evident that after having finishedusing the ex tensible step, the conductor may then ascend the steps, andclose the vestibuledoor, and at the same time automatically recede orreturn the extensible step to a closed position, and vice versa.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and usefulis 2- 1. In combination with the platform steps of a car, a pivot rodmounted in bearings on the sides of said steps adjacent the lower treadthereof, an extensible step comprising tread and rise boards, leafsprings hingedly connecting said tread and rise boards, a leaf of eachleaf spring being embedded in the rise board and having its upperendterminating in a roll to receive said pivot rod, upwardly andrearwardly curved spring arms connected to the tread board, and means ofconnection between said arms and the door of the vestibule of theplatform for extending or folding said hingedly con nected treadand riseboards.

2. In combination with the platform steps of a vestibule car, a pivotrod mounted in bearingsof the sides of said steps adjacent thelowertread thereof, an extensible step comprising tread and rise boards, leafsprings hingedly connecting said tread and 'rise'boards, a leaf of eachleaf spring being embedded in the rise board and having itsupper endterminating in a roll to receive said pivot rod, upwardly and rearwardlycurved spring arms connected to the tread board, a rock shaft havingarms connected to. the spring arms, and means of connection between saidrock shaft and the door of the vestibule for rocking the shaft.

3. In combination with the platform steps of a vestibule car, a pivotrod mounted in bearings of the sides of said steps adjacent the lowertread thereof, an extensible step comprising tread and rise boards, leafspringshingedly connecting said tread and riseboards, a leaf of-eachleaf spring being embedded in the rise board and having its upper endterminating in a roll to receive said pivot rod, upwardly and rearwardlycurved spring arms connected to the tread board, a rock shaft havingarms connected to the spring arms, one end of said rock shaft having .aflat portion, an arm secured upon said flat portion, and an operatinglever having link connections with the arm of said flat portion forrocking the said shaft, and means for holding the lever in adjustedpositions to hold the tread and rise boards folded or extended,

the pivotal connections between the spring arms and the arms of the rockshaft and the pivot between the link and the arm of the flat portionbeing in offset arrangement to said rock shaft to assist in holding saidboards folded, the said spring arms being placed under tension whenfolding said tread and rise boards, and means of connectionbetween theoperating lever and the vestibule door for actuating said operatinglever as the door is opened, thereby extending the tread and riseboards.

41. In combination with the platform steps of a vestibule car, saidplatform steps having extensible collapsible steps including anoperating lever therefor, said operating lever being fulcrumed to theside of the platform steps, a locking mechanism for the operating lever,and connections between the door of the vestibule and the lockingmechanism for unlocking the same upon partial movement of the door,which upon lever, whichin turn actuates the extensible step.

5. In combination with the platform steps of a vestibule car, saidplatform steps having extensible collapsible steps including anoperating lever therefor, said operating lever being fulcrumed to theside of the platform steps, a locking mechanism for the operating lever,and connections between the door of the vestibule and the lockingmechanism for unlocking the same upon partial movement of the door,which upon further movement actuates the operating lever, which in turnactuates the extensible step, said connections including means adaptedto be actuated manually for temporarily disengaging said connections,whereby the door may be opened independently.

6. In combination withthe platform steps of a vestibule car, saidplatform steps having extensible collapsible steps including anoperating lever therefor, said operating lever being fulcrumed totheside of the platform steps, a locking mechanism for the operating lever,and connections between the door of the vestibule and the lockingmechanism for unlocking the same upon partial movement of the door,which upon further movement actuates the extensible step, saidconnections including means adapted to be actuated manually fortemporarily disengaging said connections, whereby the door may be openedindependently, and a mechanism connected to said connections including afoot piece adjacent the lower stationary step adapted to be manuallyactuated for operating the operating lever to lower the extensible step.

7. In combination with the platform steps of a vestibule car, saidplatform steps having extensible collapsible steps including anoperating lever therefor, said operating lever being fulcrumed to theside of the platform steps, a locking mechanism for the operating lever,and connections between the door ofthe vestibule and the locking mechanism for unlocking the same upon partial movement of the door, whichupon further movement actuates the extensible step, said connectionsincluding means adapted to be actuated manually for temporarilydisengaging said connections, whereby the door may be openedindependently, and a mechanism connected to said connections including afoot piece adjacent the lower stationary step adapted to be manuallyactuated for operating the operating lever to lower the extensible step,said mechanism when actuating the operating lever constituting means torestore the connections to operative condition.

8. In combination with the vestibule car steps having an extensible andcollapsible step, an operating lever therefor, and connections betweensaid lever and the door of the vestibule for actuating the lever, andmeans in said connections adapted to be actuated for rendering saidconnections incapable of actuating the lever when the door is opened.

9. In combination with the vestibule car steps having an extensible andcollapsible step, an operating lever therefor, and connections betweensaid lever and the door of the vestibule for actuating the lever, andmeans in said connections adapted to be actuated for rendering saidconnections incapable of actuating the lever when the door is opened,said means in the connections being adapted to be so arranged, that thedoor may at all times be opened independently.

10. In combination with the vestibule car steps having an extensible andcollapsible step, an operating lever therefor, and connections betweensaid lever and the door of the vestibule for actuating the lever, and m2121:; in said connections adapted to be actuated for rendering saidconnections incapable of actuating the lever when the door is opened,said means in the connections being adapted to be so arranged, that thedoor may at all times be opened independently, and the mechanismconnected to said connections including a foot piece adjacent the lowerstationary step adapted to be manually operated for actuating theoperating lever to lower the extensible steps.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HIE-AM D. KIR-KLEY.

Witnesses V. M. VVAnLnY, G. O. LIGHT.

Copies 01 this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

